Fire-escape.



No. 675,788. Patented June 4, l90|. A. OAKLEY.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed May 20, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Mentor.- Artkar Oa'g,

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR OAKLEY, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,788, dated June 4, 1901. Application filed May 20, 1899. Serial ND- 717,624. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR OAKLEY, of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Escapes, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains or with which it is most nearly connected to make and use the same.

My invention relates to fire-escapes, and is intended to provide a simple and easily-manipulated device for facilitating escape from the upper floors of buildings, and one which shall be certain and reliable in its operation without liability to get out of order.

The novel features of my invention will be particularly described in the following specification and will be clearly defined in the claims.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my device as it appears when in use. Fig. 2 is an end View of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line ac a; of Fig. 4, showing a modified construction. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line y 'y of Fig. 3.

The form of my invention shown in the drawings comprises a longitudinal, sleeve a of a size to be easily grasped by both hands, one above the other. The sleeve is made of flexible material, such as rubber, and its bore is of a size to snugly clasp the rope upon which it is intended to be used. Rubber is an excellent material for this purpose, for it can be molded so as to secure the desired grip upon the rope. Moreover, it is readily formed with corrugations, and its quality of adhering to other surfaces is very useful both,

in securing the requisite friction on the rope and in making it easy for the user to maintain his grasp on the sleeve. sleeve may be provided with series of corrugations b to ofier greater resistance to the sliding of the sleeve on the rope. At both ends the sleeve may be formed with annular rings or shoulders c, which serve a twofold purpose, inasmuch as they may be molded to increase the gripping action of the sleeve upon the rope, since these parts are heavier and stronger than the rest of the sleeve. Moreover, they afford projections or shoulders, which lessen the likelihood of the hands slipping off the end of the sleeve. In the As shown, the

form illustrated in Figs. 3 and at I provide these annular shoulders with spring-clips d to increase or reinforce the gripping action of the sleeve upon the rope. I may also, as shown in Fig. 4, provide the exterior surface with corrugations e to lessen the tendency of the hands to slip on the sleeve. As shown, the sleeve may be split down one side for convenience in applying the same to the rope. Such a construction, moreover, makes the sleeve more adaptable to different sizes of rope.

It will be apparent that the retardation of the sliding movement on the rope can be varied by the operator by tightening or partially relaxing the grasp of the hands upon the sleeve and that this grasp of the hands is reinforced by the gripping action of the sleeve itself upon the rope.

It will be seen that I have provided a fireescape which is not only very cheap in construction, but which is exceedingly simple and easy of manipulation, so that the danger of wrongly applying it in time of excitement is reduced to a minimum. I

The device can be easily carried by the traveler and is ready for use at all times.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, though without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, it is declared that what is claimed is 1. A fire-escape comprising a rope, in combination with a sleeve of flexible material normally in close frictional contact therewith,

said sleeve being provided with spring-clips which tightly grasp the rope, and a yielding intermediate portion capable of being grasped by, the hands to produce increased frictional contact with the rope at the will of the operator.

2. A device for use in fire-escapes, consisting of a split sleeve of elastic material having interior corrugations and provided at its end with outwardly-projecting elastic shoulders.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 5th day of May, A. D. 1899.

ARTHUR OAKLEY.

Witnesses:

J. B. LA RooUE, WM. E. SWEEN'Y. 

